Town Square

Driver attacks two with a cane in road-rage incident

Original post made
on Oct 29, 2019

A 66-year-old man allegedly attacked two drivers during separate road-rage incidents on Oct. 25 in what police termed a "rampage." He has been arrested, Palo Alto police said in a press release on Tuesday.

Posted by resident
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 29, 2019 at 12:17 pm

Clearly this man is a danger to society. I hope the judge realizes this when considering bail. What is doing in Palo Alto if he lives in eastern California? Where would he be released if the judge grants him bail?

Posted by Question
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 29, 2019 at 1:07 pm

Just curious why ramming the other car multiple times with the truck was not charged as a serious crime? Seems to me that's equally or even more serious than his assaulting an elderly woman and younger man in the face with a cane, although that's bad enough.

The guy was probably completely unprepared for the horrible local traffic, or the immense amount of patience required in a place where the traffic circulation has been deliberately made to be aggravating (by order of former Governor Schwarzenegger) in the most stupid of responses possible to "encouraging" other forms of transportation? I wonder if he knows that he could probably get some sympathetic defense from locals who do not excuse his behavior, but certainly do feel for his rage?

Posted by mauricio
a resident of Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Oct 29, 2019 at 1:24 pmmauricio is a registered user.

As far as I'm concerned what this creepy driver has done amounts to attempted homicide. Giving him a suspended sentence or revoking his driving privileges for a few months would be grossly inadequate. He needs to spend several years in a state prison, the more the better and probably not be allowed to drive anymore.

What is it with Palo Alto that it is now attracting so many dangerous elements from all over?

Posted by Anon
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 29, 2019 at 1:45 pm

I'm not "excusing" the behavior, but, this sounds a bit like something that I have personally witnessed. I imagine others have also, and, I assume that the suspect will be evaluated for dementia. If this is a sudden change in behavior, the possibility of a stroke should be considered, and, I hope they checked before locking him up.

Posted by PA driver
a resident of College Terrace
on Oct 29, 2019 at 1:49 pm

I agree with Anon. This sounds a lot like a neurological issue of some kind. The PAPD is notoriously bad at spotting these. Just remember the story about the lady with a seizure this summer, and the research scientist a few years ago who sideswiped several cars because he was having a stroke. PAPD didn't even recognize he was having a problem, had him dropped off at work and then he died.

Posted by Stanford Visitor?
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Oct 29, 2019 at 2:03 pm

I've seen first hand where people come into Stanford Hosp and get a very bad diagnosis which sets them off and they lash out destructively.
This guy was from the gold country, maybe in town for a medical eval.

Posted by Midtown Mama
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 29, 2019 at 2:21 pm

This is a sad state of affairs and sounds like this 66-year-old person has either a personality disorder or a neurological or brain issue of some sort. I wish the other drivers a speedy recovery and healing from this trauma. I hope this man gets help. It doesn't sound like the other drivers did anything wrong or intentional to provoke "road rage" so not sure if it's correctly labeled as "road rage" incident.

I have experienced other incidents that made me rage inside however and wondered if this person lost it because of a situation that might have been similar to mine.

A couple of months ago two fast-driving drivers raced one another down Middlefield behind me and then both cars veered sharply over double yellow lines at 50+ MPH to pass me and several cars at a time. These two drivers raced around us as if they were daring and egging each other on to see how many cars they could pass on Middlefield without being caught. Tried to get their license plates from my dash cam recordings.

Have others experienced this and have these folks been caught? They could have ran over bicyclists and children crossing the street with their dangerous driving.

Posted by Dr SeesYa
a resident of Barron Park
on Oct 29, 2019 at 2:57 pm

Naw, that stuff happens every day to someone. What you experienced was ego, which sadly most drivers have an over abundance of once they climb behind the wheel.
Selfish ego-maniacs are behind the majority of traffic issues.

Hopefully, this man was evaluated by medical and mental health professionals. Such behavior is not normal -- especially if the man had no prior criminal behavior. Either way, I hope that this man is forced to face his crimes. There is no viable excuse to assault innocent people.

@ Question: Are you seriously blaming former Governor Schwarzenegger for traffic in and around Palo Alto? This was a problem long, long before Arnie was elected.

Posted by Anon
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 30, 2019 at 1:21 pm

Posted by resident, a resident of Monroe Park

>> I can't believe anyone is defending

Not sure who you are talking about. Me? I'm not "defending" the behavior described in the original article. I asked whether or not he had been evaluated for dementia. BTW, "hate the sin, not the sinner", or, any number of related concepts-- does that ring a bell?

>> a perp

You've been watching too many cop shows on TV.

>> with years of violent crime convictions. Why hasn't 3 strikes locked him away for life yet?

I haven't read the Mercury News article. You tell me.

BTW, older people with dementia can sometimes injure other people. "Trust me." No one is "defending" their behavior, but, it does make a difference to know whether or not dementia is the root cause. "It could happen to you."

Posted by 1drin
a resident of Charleston Meadows
on Oct 30, 2019 at 3:56 pm1drin is a registered user.

PA driver says -
"The PAPD is notoriously bad at spotting these. Just remember the story about the lady with a seizure this summer, and the research scientist a few years ago who sideswiped several cars because he was having a stroke. PAPD didn't even recognize he was having a problem, had him dropped off at work and then he died."

Or the time, a few Decembers back, when PA police officers shot dead a psychiatric patient right outside a mental health facility, just a couple blocks from University Ave. The young man had a history of depression and was trying to get shot. PAPD obliged. They felt threatened by the "deadly" butter knife he was holding and fired a few shots, just a few feet from the man.

In reaction to the news, the majority of commenters expressed their congratulations to PAPD. Sickening

Posted by john
a resident of Charleston Meadows
on Oct 30, 2019 at 11:18 pm

@1drin
Ignorance and anger are not a good combination. Putting aside the fact that you expect police to consistantly and accurately diagnose mental illness, brain aneurysms, dementia, or drug use within 2 minutes of arrival to a busy scene, a task most psychiatrists couldn't do. Mental patients with a history of depression, even in proximity to a facility, aren't a threat? You don't see how an 8 inch, dull, thin metal blade plunged into a throat, artery or eye would be fatal? Especially "a few feet away" as you stated. You get 1.25 seconds to decide: butter knife or stiletto coming at you. Incorrect guess means you get stabbed. Just kidding, either one will put a deep hole in you. Wanna play the odds?

I accept that you don't understand the concept of interpersonal violence as you're likely a nice person who's always had paid protectors like the PAPD. But it's quite simple to look for any of thousands of videos involving knife attacks to show you the speed, brutality and sheer effectiveness of an attacker with a blade. Educate yourself, please.

Posted by Kenny
a resident of University South
on Oct 31, 2019 at 11:58 am

"The PAPD is notoriously bad at spotting these. Just remember the story about the lady with a seizure this summer, and the research scientist a few years ago who sideswiped several cars because he was having a stroke. PAPD didn't even recognize he was having a problem, had him dropped off at work and then he died."

You live in a town where the ultra-low crime rate is the envy of most other places. The PAPD is a big part of the reason for that, yet you throw rocks at them? I think that is both uninformed and shameful.

Posted by Anon
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 31, 2019 at 1:20 pm

Posted by Kenny, a resident of University South

>> "The PAPD is notoriously bad at spotting these. J

>> You live in a town where the ultra-low crime rate is the envy of most other places. The PAPD is a big part of the reason for that, yet you throw rocks at them? I think that is both uninformed and shameful.

You don't seem to allow for the possibility that PAPD could do a great job of catching criminals, AND, could be notoriously bad at handling people with illnesses, and, particularly, handling people with mental illnesses-- at the same time. Fortunately, we've seen anecdotal evidence recently that PAPD is making more of an effort with regard to mental illness. I really hope this is part of a sustained effort. Police departments all over the country struggle to deal with mental illness. Google "Los Angeles County jail homeless mentally ill". There is a year's worth of reading there.